Objects Database

Alpine walking stick

Accession Number

Object Name

Created

Creator

Accession Date

27/09/2011

Brief Description

Walking stick shaped like an ice axe. Canvas wrist strap.

Materials

wood, metal

Dimensions

91(l) x 8(circumference) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

A flower and a bird carved into the top. There are four badges attached to the shaft. The first is a stag with "LANDOCK" inscribed below. The next one is a brass circle but the inscription has faded. The next one is a flower with "GARMISCH" written below. The following one is of a town with "GARMISCH PARTENKIRCHEN" inscribed below.

Colour

brown, silver

Object Production Place

Germany

Provenance

Though shaped like an ice axe, this is a walking stick, being rather too flimsy to be used as an axe. These walking sticks are very popular in the mountainous regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and are sometimes called "trophy sticks", the trophies being the little tin badges that are pinned on to the shaft - these can be purchased in tourist shops and alpine huts all over Central Europe and are designed specifically for the purpose. The flower design on the top is of an Eidelweiss, universal symbol of Alpine walking.Jane Coll found this in the attic of the a house they moved into in Dunnet.